Lubricating system.



Patented May 22, 1917.

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from the cup to the discharge into the dustchamber could be made byv any other con- .venient channel. I here use the inner chans nel of the hollow. tube because it is a con- I venient means, and because it permits the re-use of the lubricatingfluid, for the lubricant 'which has first lubricated the upper bearing before it enters the cup can pass down t oughlthe wick and out into the lower earing/to assist in lubricating that 1 I cup where it is accumulated as rapidlyas part.

The useand operation of my invention are as follows:

Considering my invention as a means for preventing the escape of the lubricant into the mechanism or onto ,the surfaces ofthe parts within', the case, asfor example, the

com'inutatorsurface, and as a means for preventing the escape of the lubricant from the filling part into the interior of the case,

ii -comprises the oil cup which incloses the opening'abo'ut the upper bearing sleeve and the packingv ring which closes the opening I which might otherwise be formed between the yoke which contains the lubricant distributing ring and the case.

This packing ring prevents the escape of any of the lubricant into the inside of the case, and the cup prevents the escape of any of the lubricant into the mechanism.

Considered as a means for conducting the lubricant away from the upper bearing in a ve'rticalshaft device, my invention C01:

prises the cup which surrounds the lower end of such bearing, receives the lubricant escaped therefrom, prevents it from escapin'g laterally by action of centrifugal force, and directs it downwardly in this etFcase through the central aperture of the shaft to the discharge outlet.

' Considered "as'a means for finally disposing of all usedlubricant in a vertical shaft -device,-. and particularly in a vacuum cleaner, my] invention comprises one or more passages whereby the lubricant iscircrilated from the bearings directly or from one'bearing toanothr, and then into a dust" charged chamber, through which a current of air is being passed, whereby the lubribricant distributing ring and through that I ring it is discharged into the inner perforation of the hollow shaft where it fallsupon the wick, and thence down therealong until .it passes out through the lateral aperture in the wall of the hollow shaft to the lower bearing. Here it performs a lubricating function and finally escapes into the dust chamber and is carried away bythe dust with which it is incorporated.

The lubricant distributer disk at the same time deposits lubricant on the bearing surfaces between'the upper end of the hollow shaft and 'the upper bearing" sleeve. Such lubricant passes down between the parts out between the washers, or between the opposed surfaces of the shoulder on the shaft and the bearing sleeve, into the cup. When the parts are rotating, this lubricant is carried by 'centrifugal force to the outer part of the annular portion of'the it escapes. The proportions of the parts are such that this cup will never m 'practical operation be full of such used lubris cant. When theparts come to rest the lubricant drops to the bottom of'the cup and is immediately drained away by the aperture from the bottom'of the cup into a passage which discharges such used 111- bricant into the dust chamber. Fo'rconvenience,. when the parts are arranged as here illustrated, the usedlubricant isdischarged from the cup into the inner chamber of thehollow shaft, whence it passes along with the unused lubricant through the aperture in the lower part of the hollow shaft into the bearing .between the hollow shaft and the lower sleeve; "Through this hearing it gradually descends until it is discharged into the 'dustchamber.

Thus I provide a kind of double conduit or a conduit consisting of two'parts at one end and one part at the other, though this part cular arrangement is not essential to my invention, whereby thelubricant'is held.

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in such conduit and passed therealong' so that it lubricates one or both of the bearings and is finally'discharged into'the dust chamber,

I claim: a 1. A rotating for driving a current of dust laden air therethrough, a lubricant conduit way including the lower of said bearings and dispart having a shaft with two bearings, a dust/chamber with meanscharging into the dust chamber, and means for; retarding the lubricant in such conduit as it moves therethrough.

2. A rotating part having a shaft/with two bearings, a dust chamber with means for driving a current of dust laden air therethrough, a. lubricant conduit wayincludin'g both bearings and discharging into the (lust chamber.

3. A rotating part having a shaft with two bearings, a dust chamberwith means 2 for driving acurrent of dust laden air there through, a lubricant conduit way including both bearings and discharginginto the dust chamber and means for retannng the lubricant in such conduit as it moves therealong. 4. A rotating part having a shaft with two bearings, a dustchamber with means for driving a current of dust laden air therethrough, a lubricant conduit way including both bearings and discharging intothe dust chamber-and means for retarding the lubri cant in such conduit as it moves therethrough,

5. A rotating part having a shaft with two bearings, a dust chamber with means for driving a current of dust laden air there through, a lubricant conduit way including.- both bearings and discharging into the du st chamber and a cup surrounding one ofasaid bearings and adapted to retain the lubri-v cant therein when therotating part is in motion. I

6. A rotating part having a shaft with two bearings, a dust chamber withgmeans for driving a current of dust ladeny'ai'i thereadapted to retain the used lubricant while' it is rotating, and a conduit way including an outlet from the on into the hollow shaft through whichsaid ubricant is discharged while the cup is at rest into the hollow of,

the shaft and a passageway'from the in side of the hollow shaft to the other bearing. 8. A rotating part in combination with a lubricant supply chamber, direct connections therefrom one to one bearing and the other to the other, a passageway leading from the first bearing to the connection which leads to the second and a discharge passagewayleading from the second bearing.

9. A rotating part. having a hollow shaft I withwtwo bearings, an 011 supply receptacle connected with the hollow shaft and with one of said bearings, a passageway from such bearing to the hollow shaft and a passageway from said hollow shaft to the other bearing and a discharge passage from said last mentioned bearing.

, low shaft with uppe Jcharginginto suc 10. A rotating part having a hollow shaft with two bearings, a cup surrounding the discharge end of one of said bearings and adapted to retain the used lubricant while it is rotating, a conduit including an outlet from the cup into the hollow shaft through which said lubricant is discharged while the cup is at. rest into the hollow of the shaft, a passageway from the inside of the hollow shaft to the other bearing, and a dust chamber with means for driving a current of dust-laden air therethrough.

11. A vertical rotating part havinga hollow shaft with upper and lower bearings,

means for introducing lubricant at the upper end of the shaft into the hollow. of the shaft and into the upper bearing, a cup surrounding the discharge end of said upper bearing and adapted to retain the used lubricant while it is rotating, a passageway leading from such cup into the hollow shaft and an outlet from the lower end of the hollow shaft into the lower bearing whereby allthe lubricant is confined to. such system which includes both bearings'and the hollow of the shaft.

12. A vertical rotating part havinga holr andlower Bearings, meansfor introducing lubricant at the upper end of 'the shaft into the hollow of the shaft and into the .upper bearing, a cup surrounding the discharge end ofsaid upper bearing and adapted to retain the used ubricant while it is rotatin ","an aperture leading from such cup into 1: ehollow shaft and an outlet from the lower end of the hollow shaft into thelower bearing whereby all the lubricant is confined to such system which includes both bearings and the hollow of the-shaft, and a dust chamber with means for drivinga current of dust-laden air therethrough said lower bearing disll'dust chamber. 13. The combination of a removable motor case cap with a motor framepart which projects through they-cap and is associated with the motor parts, a lubricant opening thro h such projecting part, a conduit, where the-lubricant is passed through the motor earings and iout of the caserand a, packing between the frame part and-the capJ In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature in the presence' f two witnesses this 12th day of July 1916. v i H. EARL HOOVER.

Witnesses: a

MINNIE ML LINDENAU, Larmnr. M. .Doimuns. 

